OT: Drinking Beer in Ann Arbor - Guide Addendum
[Didn't want this to get lost among the 315+ comments in today's epic post on Ann Arbor Dining and Drinking. If you have no interest in beer, nothing to see here.]
For those who read through today's guide, it included a number of different options for beer and people's opinions thereof. Will be up for the Notre Dame game this year so here I'd like to query the MGoCommunity for a bit more specific information about where to find the best beers available in Ann Arbor. Feel free to include specific varieties available on tap at different establishments.
Of note I'm hoping to find some fairly robust beers, think double IPA / Imperial style. One example, a local favorite of mine, is the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. If you know of places to find beers like that or similar from other breweries like Stone Brewing Co. and Lagunitas let me know.
I know Bell's makes something in this vein: Hopslam, but have never had the pleasure. Any bars serving that in A2? If not available in a bar, anyone know a beer/wine store that carries it? (Hopefully anywhere but Beer Depot, that drive thru place. Went there once as an undergrad and we had to leave unexpectedly as an employee threatened to get his gun.)
Thanks in advance for your help.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:01 PM ^
Also, the brewery itself always has a whole bunch of experimental stuff on tap.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:43 PM ^
Brewery Vivant has been an up-and-comer with some seriously tasty Belgian styles. I don't know about AA, but in GR you can't walk into a beer/grocery store, bar, or restaurant without seeing it, cans or on tap. If you can get your hands on any of their stuff over there, I highly recommend it.
August 25th, 2011 at 12:49 AM ^
I just want to say outstanding handle you came up with, welcome aboard!
I'm not too sure about your picture though.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:15 AM ^
Thank you. It's an old-timey shot of the diag I came across a while back. Though, as you point out, I'm not sure it carries over well to an ~1"x1" avatar.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:18 PM ^
Plenty the Elder? Michigan does have some good brews now but no one can mess with the pacific northwest. IPA's for days..
August 24th, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^
Check that. Pliny, man, Pliny.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:46 PM ^
If you like Michigan brews and you are in Detroit, the Grand Trunk Pub has a decent amount of Michigan beers, and if I am not mistaken, I believe all their taps are Michigan microbrews. It is a cool bar on Woodward just north of Jefferson. Another cool place is Cliff Bells. It was always interesting to go to happy hour in Detroit v. Washington DC or Chicago...empty(ish).
August 24th, 2011 at 10:49 PM ^
August 24th, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^
If Ashley's still has devil dancer give that a try. If you like big ipa's, this is one of the best.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^
I drank it there the last two years in a row. It's seasonal, so I would call to see if it's in. I seem to remember it making an appearance around this time of year.
I don't know if any other bars in the area carry it.
The other way to find out is to call Bell's. They should be able to tell you definitively which bars have it. The only reason I knew where to go was because I was hanging out with a sales manager for Bell's.
If you aren't prepared for a manic orgy of hops, then beware.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:29 PM ^
You should check out the Jolly Pumpkin. They're local, their beer is WAY better than the ABC/Corner Brewing stuff. It'll be right up your alley. (Even their mellow stuff s still pretty Hopsy.)
August 24th, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^
Thats the good stuff. One best belgian wheat ale (among belgian wheats made in belgium) in a nytimes blind taste test a few years back.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:30 PM ^
Grizz Peak beer is about pleasing the lowest common demoninator. Avoid.
As far in-town brewers, Arbor Brewing is excellent. Their Sacred Cow IPA is fantastic. Bell's Two Hearted is an all time fav and I say that after living in Beervana for the past five years. If you can get it on tap drink it. A lot.
Ashley's is awesome although I've found that they can let some less popular beer get a bit stale in the tap.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:57 PM ^
Beer is proof that . . . [ ].
[it weighs favorably in this agnostic mind]
August 24th, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^
Pretty Decent. It is a micro and its good. No one put it on here so I thought I would.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^
'38 redemption at wolverine state brewing co. Is an excellent dark pilsner.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^
I'm worthless as I haven't been to the Old Town in at least 6 months, but don't they also have Shorts Humalupalicious on tap? I'm surprised no one has mentioned this here. I go for a Huma over Hopslam or Two Hearted, though all three are excellent.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:49 PM ^
Pabst Go Blue Ribbon
August 24th, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
So where are some places to get 6 packs or cases of local brews or a large selection of beer?
August 24th, 2011 at 11:30 PM ^
Honestly, Micro brews are huge here. Busch's grocery has a good selection. (Local stuff including Bell's, Dark Horse, and ABC. Out of state stuff including Dog Fish Head, Stone, and UniBroue [sp?].) Arbor Farms Market has an even better selection. I don't usually go there, but I'm sure the beer store on the corner of Washington and Main has a bunch of good stuff. Hell, ou can even find nice Micro's at Meijer's!
August 24th, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
Surprisingly, Kroger has one of the better selections. Meijer focuses too much on the major microbrews and major domestics. You can find a great selection at Hiller's on Washtenaw Ave.
August 25th, 2011 at 12:38 AM ^
Stadium Market has a lot of different local micros, as do Hillers, Arbor Farms, and Plum Market. Fancy grocery stores are excellent in this regard in AA.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
I cannot believe nobody has said Wolverine State Brewery Co. on Stadium. Their taproom has some excellent brews, plus rotating taps of experimental brews.
August 25th, 2011 at 12:03 AM ^
...surprisingly good tap selection, including Dog 90 and Founders Porter.
August 25th, 2011 at 12:57 AM ^
I just wanted to add another plug for Ashley's as the bear slection is truely outstanding and it is owned/run by a couple of my old roomates, so please go there and spend $.
You can guess that we spent a lot of time as undergrads sampling beers, but our tastes were a little less well developed back then.
What more can one really ask for in life then to own the best bar with the best beer selection in one's college town? I am jealous.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:18 AM ^
Ashley's has the best beer selection. For sports bars, the Arena actually has a decent beer selection on tap. Bar Louie isn't bad either.
Of the microbrewers, I'd say if I'm being honest Jolly Pumpkin has better beer than ABC though the IPA from ABC isn't bad. Blue Tractor and GP are alright.
For liquor store I think the one on Main Street and Ann is pretty solid.
I moved to Chicago recently and have to say I miss Ashley's. I can still find some decent microbrews but in terms of selection nothing has really matched it. People tried to tell me that The Map Room is such a great beer selection... I went. It's ok.
If you're really into foreign imports you might not do too badly at the Heidelberg. I prefer microbrews myself and it seems like the OP does as well but just throwing it out there.
Like someon else mentioned, the town is really mad for microbrews, it's stranger to find a place that carries none of them than to find at least one or two.
August 25th, 2011 at 2:13 AM ^
Speaking of Stone, has anyone on here been there? My brother dragged me there and that place is massive/incredible. We thought there was a class reunion going on next to the hole-in-the-wall brewery, and it was actually their humongous beer garden, full of ponds, fireplaces, and large grassy areas in a walled in paradise.
August 25th, 2011 at 2:45 AM ^
FWIW, Beer Depot has to deal with a LOT of really weird people coming in off of 4th Ave. They still have an amazing selection and pretty great employees (at least recently). I'm kind of curious what you were doing to make an employee have to get his gun, tbqh.
but ANYWAY, ditto Ashleys. I've been prettyunimpressed with Arbor Brewing and Grizzly Peak, but Jolly Pumpkin on Main was really good for the one beer I had.
The thing about Ashley's is that it has a pretty solid selection of Belgians, and I'm not sure why you'd be looking for anything else. Of course, it'll probably be packed on gameday.
August 25th, 2011 at 7:10 AM ^
The problem with the Arena is that the pours differ with each shift. Depending on the bartender, you're likley to get 10 ounces of beer and 6 ounces of foam in every pint.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:39 AM ^
Right by the highway: http://www.yelp.com/biz/super-liquor-iv-ann-arbor
They've got about as big of a selection as you're going to find close to campus.
August 27th, 2011 at 9:48 AM ^
Beer, Around Ann Arbor, Drinking (BAAAD)